Marion e



(No Model.)

' M. E. GLADFELTER.

BICYCLE SUPPORT.

Patented Apr. 13, 1897.-

NlTE STATES MARION E. GLADFELTER, OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WVISCONSIN,ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO ADOLPI-I RICKER AND JOHN E. KRANER, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,391, dated April 13, 1897.

Application filed September 16, 1896. Serial No. 606,005. (No model.)-

To all 1072,0112 it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION E. GLADFELTER, of South Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bicycle-Supports, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

IO The object of my invention is to provide an improved bicycle-support adapted to support the bicycle in upright position when the bicycle is not in use and to be securely folded in compact form on the bicycle-frame when the I 5 device is not in use, the special purpose of the invention being to furnish a device that is readily and removablyapplied to the frame of a bicycle, which device is strong and enduring in its character, 'is light in weight, is

conveniently adjusted, and the movable parts of which are automatically secured releasably in position.

The invention consists of the device, its parts and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, or their equivalents.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation in dotted lines of a bicycle with my improved bicycle-support, shown in full lines, in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of myimproved device, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof my improved device, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration. Figs. 4 and 5 are details.

In the drawings, A is a rod that is secured removably to the bicycle-frame by clips 13 and O. The clip B passes around the top horizontal bar \V of the bicycle-frame and is clasped releasably thereto by means of the set-screws D, which at the same time clamp the clip to the upper extremity of the rod A. The clip 0 passes around the lower bar Y of the bicycle-frame and is clasped refeasably thereto by the set-screws E, that clamp it to the lower extremity of the rod A.

A transverse head F slides on the rod A, and legs G G, hinged at their upper extremities to the head F, extend downwardly therefrom and pass in apertures therefor movably through the cross-bar l-I, secured adj ustably to the rod A. The cross-bar H is preferably adjustable up and down on the rod A by a screw-thread, by which means the cross-bar is secured thereto, the nut I serving as a lock-nut. The apertures in the cross-bar l-I, through which the legs G move, are a little farther apart than the pivots or hinge connections of the legs to the head block F, so that the lower extremities of the legs G are spread apart somewhat more than their upper ends are.

An elastic steel strap or spring-catch K, secured rigidly to the head-block F at the front, is bent rearwardly above and below the block and is provided with apertures through which the rod A passes, the apertures being of such size as to permit the block and strap to move freely up and down on the rod when the two arms of the strap are in substantially horizontal positions, the construction being such that when the arms of the strap are thrown into oblique or diver ging positions, such as are shown in Fig. 3, the straps will engage or bite the rod with such energy as to lock the cross-head and the devices mounted thereon in position on the rod. A spring L is preferably secured to the rear side of the cross-head F, and its extremities act against the arms of the strap-catch K to reinforce their action and to cause them surely to releasably grip or bite the rod A. An elastic Wire M is coiled about and thereby secured to the rod A immediately below the cross-bar H, and its extremities bear movably and yieldingly against the legs G G, the device being a spring serving to prevent rattling of the legs G in the cross-bar H. The lower extremity of the rod A is squared or faced and fits to a correspondingly squared or faced 9o socket in the clip 0, whereby the rod A, when secured to the bicycle by means of the clips, is prevented from oscillating or rotating axially, and thus the cross-bar H is held in posit-ion at a right angle to the front and rear of the 9 5 bicycle-frame. For conveniently securin g the spring catch K to the head-block F the heada block is provided with integral outwardlyprojecting studs N N, which extend through apertures therefor in the spring-catch, and

being upset or headed down secure the catch to the head-block.

The disposition and arrangement of my im proved device on a bicycle are such as practically to put it out of the way of the limbs of the rider when in its folded position. (Shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 in full lines.)

It will be understood that when the rider dismounts he seizes the arms of the catch K and bringing them toward each other against the resistance of the spring L releases the headblock and slides it down on the rod A, which movement carries the legs G downwardlyand spreads them apart in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The legs are thus moved down, spreading outwardly as moved, until they strike the floor or ground, and the catch K being then released automatically grips the rod A and holds the legs in posithrough which the legs are movable, and a springbearing against the legs near the crossbar serving as an antirattler.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARION E. GLADFELTER.

WVitnesses:

JOHN G. WILLIAMs, ALBERT J. SOHUBRING. 

